Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
KNOWLEDGEMAX, INC.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
KNOWLEDGEMAX, INC.
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the
corporation in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington, County
of New Castle. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 131)
SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The corporation shall also have and
maintain an office or principal place of business at such place as may be fixed
by the Board of Directors, and may also have offices at such other places, both
within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time
to time determine or the business of the corporation may require. (Del. Code
Ann., tit. 8, Section 122(8))
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE SEAL
SECTION 3. CORPORATE SEAL. The Board of Directors may adopt a
corporate seal. The corporate seal shall consist of a die bearing the name of
the corporation and the inscription, "Corporate Seal-Delaware." Said seal may be
used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or
reproduced or otherwise. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 122(3))
ARTICLE III
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 4. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the stockholders of the
corporation may be held at such place, either within or without the State of
Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall
not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote
communication as provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL").
(Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 211(a))
SECTION 5. ANNUAL MEETINGS.
(a) The annual meeting of the stockholders of the
corporation, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other
business as may lawfully come before it, shall be held on such date and at such
time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
1.
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation
and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at
an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the corporation's notice of
meeting of stockholders; (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors;
or (iii) by any stockholder of the corporation who was a stockholder of record
at the time of giving of notice provided for in the following paragraph, who is
entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set
forth in Section 5. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 211(b)).
(b) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such
business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the
meeting. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a) of
these Bylaws, (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the Secretary of the corporation, (ii) such other business must be a
proper matter for stockholder action under DGCL, (iii) if the stockholder, or
the beneficial owner on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made,
has provided the corporation with a Solicitation Notice (as defined in this
Section 5(b)), such stockholder or beneficial owner must, in the case of a
proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at
least the percentage of the corporation's voting shares required under
applicable law to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or
nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a
percentage of the corporation's voting shares reasonably believed by such
stockholder or beneficial owner to be sufficient to elect the nominee or
nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder, and must, in either case,
have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice, and (iv) if no
Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this
section, the stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or
nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have
required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this Section 5. To be
timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of
business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on
the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the
date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or
delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so
delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth
(120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of
business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting
or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the
date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of
an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of
a stockholder's notice as described above. Such stockholder's notice shall set
forth: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposed to nominate for
election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person
that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of
directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "1934 Act") and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such person's written
consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a
director if elected); (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes
to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be
brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the
meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the
beneficial owner, if any,
2.
on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the
notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or
proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on
the corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number
of shares of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such
stockholder and such beneficial owner, and (iii) whether either such stockholder
or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to
holders of, in the case of the proposal, at least the percentage of the
corporation's voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal
or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders
of the corporation's voting shares to elect such nominee or nominees (an
affirmative statement of such intent, a "Solicitation Notice").
(c) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
Section 5(b) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of
directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is
increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for
director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the
corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of
the preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this
Section 5 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for
any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the
Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than
the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such
public announcement is first made by the corporation.
(d) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 5 shall be eligible to serve as
directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders
as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this Section 5. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Chairman
of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination
or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed,
as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws
and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these
Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall not be
presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 5, in order to include information with respect to a stockholder
proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholders' meeting,
stockholders must provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated
under the 1934 Act. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights
of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation proxy
statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act.
(f) For purposes of this Section 5, "public announcement"
shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service,
Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly
filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.
3.
SECTION 6. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
(a) Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation
may be called, for any purpose or purposes, by (i) the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Board of Directors
pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized
directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized
directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of
Directors for adoption).
(b) If a special meeting is properly called by any person or
persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in writing,
specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and
shall be delivered personally or sent by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested, to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer, or the Secretary of the corporation. No business may be
transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice. The
Board of Directors shall determine the time and place of such special meeting,
which shall be held not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than one hundred
twenty (120) days after the date of the receipt of the request. Upon
determination of the time and place of the meeting, the officer receiving the
request shall cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of these Bylaws. Nothing contained
in this paragraph (b) shall be construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the
time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors
may be held.
(c) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors
are to be elected pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting (i) by or at
the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the
corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided
for in these Bylaws who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c). In the event
the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of
electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder
may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such
position(s) as specified in the corporation's notice of meeting, if the
stockholder's notice required by Section 5(b) of these Bylaws shall be delivered
to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not
earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day
prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such meeting or the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the
special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be
elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an
adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a
stockholder's notice as described above.
SECTION 7. NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Except as otherwise provided by law,
notice, given in writing or by electronic transmission, of each meeting of
stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days
before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such
meeting, such notice to specify the place, if any, date and hour, in the case of
special meetings, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, and the means of
remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be
deemed to be present in person and vote at any such meeting. If mailed, notice
is given when deposited in the United
4.
States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's
address as it appears on the records of the corporation. Notice of the time,
place, if any, and purpose of any meeting of stockholders may be waived in
writing, signed by the person entitled to notice thereof, or by electronic
transmission by such person, either before or after such meeting, and will be
waived by any stockholder by his attendance thereat in person, by remote
communication, if applicable, or by proxy, except when the stockholder attends a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting,
to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by
the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had
been given. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 222, 229, 232)
SECTION 8. QUORUM. At all meetings of stockholders, except where
otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by
these Bylaws, the presence, in person, by remote communication, if applicable,
or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of stock entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be
adjourned, from time to time, either by the chairman of the meeting or by vote
of the holders of a majority of the shares represented thereat, but no other
business shall be transacted at such meeting. The stockholders present at a duly
called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to
transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by
statute or by applicable stock exchange or Nasdaq rules, or by the Certificate
of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of
directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person, by
remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the meeting and
entitled to vote generally on the subject matter shall be the act of the
stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the
votes of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable,
or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the
election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is
required, except where otherwise provided by the statute or by the Certificate
of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the outstanding shares of such
class or classes or series, present in person, by remote communication, if
applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized, shall constitute a quorum
entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Except where
otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the majority (plurality, in the case of the
election of directors) of shares of such class or classes or series present in
person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the
meeting shall be the act of such class or classes or series. (Del. Code Ann.,
tit. 8, Section 216)
SECTION 9. ADJOURNMENT AND NOTICE OF ADJOURNED MEETINGS. Any
meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time
to time either by the chairman of the meeting or by the vote of a majority of
the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or
represented by proxy at the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned to another time
or place, if any, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time
and place, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment
is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business
which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is
for more than thirty (30) days or if
5.
after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a
notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote at the meeting. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 222(c))
SECTION 10. VOTING RIGHTS. For the purpose of determining those
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, except as
otherwise provided by law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock
records of the corporation on the record date, as provided in Section 12 of
these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders. Every
person entitled to vote shall have the right to do so either in person, by
remote communication, if applicable, or by an agent or agents authorized by a
proxy granted in accordance with Delaware law. An agent so appointed need not be
a stockholder. No proxy shall be voted after three (3) years from its date of
creation unless the proxy provides for a longer period. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8,
Sections 211(e), 212(b))
SECTION 11. JOINT OWNERS OF STOCK. If shares or other securities
having voting power stand of record in the names of two (2) or more persons,
whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common,
tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two (2) or more persons have the
same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is
given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the
instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is
so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:
(a) if only one (1) votes, his act binds all; (b) if more than one (1) votes,
the act of the majority so voting binds all; (c) if more than one (1) votes, but
the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the
securities in question proportionally, or may apply to the Delaware Court of
Chancery for relief as provided in the DGCL, Section 217(b). If the instrument
filed with the Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal
interests, a majority or even-split for the purpose of subsection (c) shall be a
majority or even-split in interest. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 217(b))
SECTION 12. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS. The Secretary shall prepare and
make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete
list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of
shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to
the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, (a)
on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information
required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting,
or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the
corporation. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list
available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to
ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the
corporation. The list shall be open to examination of any stockholder during the
time of the meeting as provided by law. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 219)
6.
SECTION 13. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. No action shall be taken by the
stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in
accordance with these Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders
by written consent or by electronic transmission.
SECTION 14. ORGANIZATION.
(a) At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or is absent, the
President, or, if the President is absent, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a
majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote, present in person or
by proxy, shall act as chairman. The Secretary, or, in his absence, an Assistant
Secretary directed to do so by the President, shall act as secretary of the
meeting.
(b) The Board of Directors of the corporation shall be
entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of
stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to
such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman of
the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such
chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the
meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of
business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the
meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such
meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation and their duly authorized
and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman shall permit,
restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement
thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by
participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for
balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot. The date and time of
the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders
will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. Unless and to the
extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting,
meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with
rules of parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
SECTION 15. NUMBER AND TERM OF OFFICE. The authorized number of
directors of the corporation shall be fixed in accordance with the Certificate
of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the
Certificate of Incorporation. If for any cause, the directors shall not have
been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as
convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in
the manner provided in these Bylaws. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 141(b),
211(b), (c))
SECTION 16. POWERS. The powers of the corporation shall be
exercised, its business conducted and its property controlled by the Board of
Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate
of Incorporation. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(a))
SECTION 17. CLASSES OF DIRECTORS. Subject to the rights of the
holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under
specified circumstances, the directors shall be
7.
divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III,
respectively. At the first annual meeting of stockholders following the initial
classification of the Board of Directors, the term of office of the Class I
directors shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full term of
three years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following such initial
classification, the term of office of the Class II directors shall expire and
Class II directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the third
annual meeting of stockholders following such initial classification, the term
of office of the Class III directors shall expire and Class III directors shall
be elected for a full term of three years. At each succeeding annual meeting of
stockholders, directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to
succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, each director
shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his
death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent
director.
SECTION 18. VACANCIES.
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of
Preferred Stock, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall,
unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies
or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders, be filled only
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even
though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in
accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of
the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and
until such director's successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy
in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under this Section 18 in the
case of the death, removal or resignation of any director. (Del. Code Ann., tit.
8, Section 223(a), (b))
SECTION 19. RESIGNATION. Any director may resign at any time by
delivering his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the
Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a
particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board
of Directors. If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at
the pleasure of the Board of Directors. When one or more directors shall resign
from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the
directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power
to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such
resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each Director so chosen
shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the Director whose
place shall be vacated and until his successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 141(b), 223(d))
8.
SECTION 20. REMOVAL.
(a) Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred
Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, neither the
Board of Directors nor any individual director may be removed without cause.
(b) Subject to any limitation imposed by law, any
individual director or directors may be removed with cause by the affirmative
vote of the holders of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting
power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation
entitled to vote generally at an election of directors.
SECTION 21. MEETINGS.
(a) REGULAR MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time or date and at any place within or without the State of
Delaware which has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized
among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a
voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate
messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other
electronic means. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of
the Board of Directors. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(g))
(b) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever
called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a majority of the number
of directors. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(g))
(c) MEETINGS BY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. Any
member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate
in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment
by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other,
and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person
at such meeting. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(i))
(d) NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS. Notice of the time and place
of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be orally or in writing,
by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology
designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or
by electronic mail or other electronic means, during normal business hours, at
least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting. If notice
is sent by US mail, it shall be sent by first class mail, charges prepaid, at
least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may
be waived in writing, or by electronic transmission, at any time before or after
the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except
when the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at
the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section
229)
(e) WAIVER OF NOTICE. The transaction of all business at
any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called
or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly
held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be
9.
present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not
present who did not receive notice shall sign a written waiver of notice or
shall waive notice by electronic transmission. All such waivers shall be filed
with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. (Del.
Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 229)
SECTION 22. QUORUM AND VOTING.
(a) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a
greater number, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority
of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation; provided,
however, at any meeting whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of
the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the
next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by
announcement at the meeting. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(b))
(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a
quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote
be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. (Del. Code
Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(b))
SECTION 23. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. Unless otherwise restricted by
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of
Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by
electronic transmission, and such writing or writings or transmission or
transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of
Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are
maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are
maintained in electronic form. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(f))
SECTION 24. FEES AND COMPENSATION. Directors shall be entitled to
such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of
Directors, including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors, a
fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or
special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of
the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude
any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer,
agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor. (Del. Code
Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(h))
SECTION 25. COMMITTEES.
(a) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors may appoint
an Executive Committee to consist of one (1) or more members of the Board of
Directors. The Executive Committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided
in the resolution of the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to
be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have
the power or authority in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or
recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the
DGCL to be submitted to
10.
stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of
the corporation. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(c))
(b) OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, from time
to time, appoint such other committees as may be permitted by law. Such other
committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall consist of one (1) or more
members of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and perform such
duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such
committees, but in no event shall any such committee have the powers denied to
the Executive Committee in these Bylaws. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section
141(c))
(c) TERM. The Board of Directors, subject to any
requirements of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock and the provisions of
subsections (a) or (b) of this Bylaw, may at any time increase or decrease the
number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The
membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his death or
voluntary resignation from the committee or from the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual
committee member and the Board of Directors may fill any committee vacancy
created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of
the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as
alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition, in the absence or
disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof
present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or
they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of
Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified
member. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(c))
(d) MEETINGS. Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise
provide, regular meetings of the Executive Committee or any other committee
appointed pursuant to this Section 25 shall be held at such times and places as
are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when
notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further
notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter. Special meetings of
any such committee may be held at any place which has been determined from time
to time by such committee, and may be called by any Director who is a member of
such committee, upon notice to the members of such committee of the time and
place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of
notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special
meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any
committee may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and
will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director
attends such special meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the
beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors in the resolutions authorizing the creation of the committee, a
majority of the authorized number of members of any such committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority
of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of
such committee. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 141(c), 229)
SECTION 26. ORGANIZATION. At every meeting of the directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or
is absent, the President (if a director), or if the President is absent, the
most senior Vice President (if a director), or, in the
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absence of any such person, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority of
the directors present, shall preside over the meeting. The Secretary, or in his
absence, any Assistant Secretary directed to do so by the President, shall act
as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
SECTION 27. OFFICERS DESIGNATED. The officers of the corporation
shall include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of
the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or more
Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer and
the Controller, all of whom shall be elected at the annual organizational
meeting of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one
or more Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Controllers and
such other officers and agents with such powers and duties as it shall deem
necessary. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or
more of the officers as it shall deem appropriate. Any one person may hold any
number of offices of the corporation at any one time unless specifically
prohibited therefrom by law. The salaries and other compensation of the officers
of the corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of
Directors. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 122(5), 142(a), (b))
SECTION 28. TENURE AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
(a) GENERAL. All officers shall hold office at the pleasure
of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly
elected and qualified, unless sooner removed. Any officer elected or appointed
by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors.
If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be
filled by the Board of Directors. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 141(b), (e))
(b) DUTIES OF CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The
Chairman of the Board of Directors, when present, shall preside at all meetings
of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall
also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of
Directors shall designate from time to time. If there is no President, then the
Chairman of the Board of Directors shall also serve as the Chief Executive
Officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in
paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 28. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section
142(a))
(c) DUTIES OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive
Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of
the Board of Directors, unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been
appointed and is present. The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the
control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and
control of the business and officers of the Corporation and shall also perform
such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors shall
designate from time to time. (Del. Code Ann., Tit. 8, Section 142(a))
12.
(d) DUTIES OF PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at
all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors,
unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present.
The President shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and
shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of
Directors shall designate from time to time. (Del. Code Ann., Tit. 8, Section
142(a))
(e) DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents may
assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of
the President or whenever the office of President is vacant. The Vice Presidents
shall perform other duties commonly incident to their office and shall also
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors
or the President shall designate from time to time. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8,
Section 142(a))
(f) DUTIES OF SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all
meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all
acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the corporation. The
Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of
the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee
thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties provided
for in these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to the office and shall
also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of
Directors shall designate from time to time. The President may direct any
Assistant Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the
absence or disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall
perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such
other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the
President shall designate from time to time. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section
142(a))
(g) DUTIES OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial
Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation
in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial
affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of
Directors or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of
the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of
the corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly
incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from
time to time. The President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer,
or the Controller or any Assistant Controller to assume and perform the duties
of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief
Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and each
Controller and Assistant Controller shall perform other duties commonly incident
to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other
powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to
time. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 142(a))
SECTION 29. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Board of Directors may
from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other
officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
SECTION 30. RESIGNATIONS. Any officer may resign at any time by
giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors
or to the President or to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective
when received by the person or persons to
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whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified therein, in which
event the resignation shall become effective at such later time. Unless
otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such resignation shall
not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without
prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract with the
resigning officer. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 142(b))
SECTION 31. REMOVAL. Any officer may be removed from office at any
time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors in office at the time, or by the unanimous written consent of the
directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers upon
whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING OF SECURITIES
OWNED BY THE CORPORATION
SECTION 32. EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS. The Board of
Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the
signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf
of the corporation any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of
the corporation the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into
contracts on behalf of the corporation, except where otherwise provided by law
or these Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the
corporation. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 103(a), 142(a), 158)
All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to
the credit of the corporation or in special accounts of the corporation shall be
signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize so to
do.
Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the
agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power
or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge
its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount. (Del. Code
Ann., tit. 8, Sections 103(a), 142(a), 158).
SECTION 33. VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. All
stock and other securities of other corporations owned or held by the
corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted,
and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized
so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such
authorization, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, or any Vice President. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section
123)
ARTICLE VII
SHARES OF STOCK
SECTION 34. FORM AND EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATES. Certificates for the
shares of stock of the corporation shall be in such form as is consistent with
the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock in
the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate
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signed by or in the name of the corporation by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or the President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or
Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the
number of shares owned by him in the corporation. Any or all of the signatures
on the certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent, or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a
certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar
before such certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if
he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. Each
certificate shall state upon the face or back thereof, in full or in summary,
all of the powers, designations, preferences, and rights, and the limitations or
restrictions of the shares authorized to be issued or shall, except as otherwise
required by law, set forth on the face or back a statement that the corporation
will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers,
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other
special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a
reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the
corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice
containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates
pursuant to this section or otherwise required by law or with respect to this
section a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each
stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative
participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series
thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences
and/or rights. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 158)
SECTION 35. LOST CERTIFICATES. A new certificate or certificates
shall be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued
by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of
stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. The corporation may require, as a
condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the
owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the
owner's legal representative, to agree to indemnify the corporation in such
manner as it shall require or to give the corporation a surety bond in such form
and amount as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been
lost, stolen, or destroyed. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 167)
SECTION 36. TRANSFERS.
(a) Transfers of record of shares of stock of the
corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person
or by attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of a properly endorsed
certificate or certificates for a like number of shares. (Del. Code Ann., tit.
8, Section 201, tit. 6, Section 8- 401(1))
(b) The corporation shall have power to enter into and
perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes
of stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the
corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner
not prohibited by the DGCL. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 160 (a))
15.
SECTION 37. FIXING RECORD DATES.
(a) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record
date shall, subject to applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than
ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the
Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on
which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment
of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new
record date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution
or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights
in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of
any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than
sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record
date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of
business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution
relating thereto. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 213)
SECTION 38. REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS. The corporation shall be
entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as
the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall
not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such
share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have
express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of
Delaware. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 213(a), 219)
ARTICLE VIII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION
SECTION 39. EXECUTION OF OTHER SECURITIES. All bonds, debentures
and other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock certificates
(covered in Section 34), may be signed by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice President, or such
other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, and the corporate
seal impressed thereon or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and
attested by the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the
Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; provided,
however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall
be authenticated by the manual signature, or where permissible facsimile
signature, of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond,
debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signatures of the
persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or
other corporate security may be the imprinted
16.
facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest coupons appertaining to
any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee
as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the
corporation or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors,
or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person. In case any
officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate
security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon or on any such
interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer before the bond, debenture
or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered,
such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by
the corporation and issued and delivered as though the person who signed the
same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to
be such officer of the corporation.
ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
SECTION 40. DECLARATION OF DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital
stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of
Directors pursuant to law at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be
paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. (Del. Code
Ann., tit. 8, Sections 170, 173)
SECTION 41. DIVIDEND RESERVE. Before payment of any dividend, there
may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends
such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in their absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think
conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the Board of Directors may
modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created. (Del.
Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 171)
ARTICLE X
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 42. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the corporation shall
be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 43. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, OTHER
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS.
(a) DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. The corporation shall
indemnify its directors and Executive Officers to the fullest extent not
prohibited by the DGCL or any other applicable law; provided, however, that the
corporation may modify the extent of such
17.
indemnification by individual contracts with its directors and Executive
Officers; and, provided, further, that the corporation shall not be required to
indemnify any director and Executive Officers in connection with any proceeding
(or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such indemnification is
expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by the
Board of Directors of the corporation, (iii) such indemnification is provided by
the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the
corporation under the DGCL or any other applicable law or (iv) such
indemnification is required to be made under subsection (d).
(b) EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS. The corporation shall have
power to indemnify its employees and other agents as set forth in the DGCL or
any other applicable law. The Board of Directors shall have the power to
delegate the determination of whether indemnification shall be given to any such
person except Executive Officers to such officers or other persons as the Board
of Directors shall determine.
(c) EXPENSES. The corporation shall advance to any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director or Executive Officers, of the corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director or executive officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, prior to the
final disposition of the proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all
expenses incurred by any director or and Executive Officers in connection with
such proceeding provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of
expenses incurred by a director or and Executive Officers in his or her capacity
as a director or and Executive Officers (and not in any other capacity in which
service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation,
service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the
corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an "undertaking"), by or on behalf of
such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be
determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to
appeal (hereinafter a "final adjudication") that such indemnitee is not entitled
to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 43 or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Section 43, no advance shall be made by the corporation to
an Executive Officer of the corporation (except by reason of the fact that such
Executive Officer is or was a director of the corporation in which event this
paragraph shall not apply) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is reasonably and
promptly made (i) by a majority vote of directors who were not parties to the
proceeding, even if not a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors
designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum,
or (iii) if there are no such directors, or such directors so direct, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the facts known to the
decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly
and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such
person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation.
(d) ENFORCEMENT. Without the necessity of entering into an
express contract, all rights to indemnification and advances to directors and
Executive Officers under this Bylaw
18.
shall be deemed to be contractual rights and be effective to the same extent and
as if provided for in a contract between the corporation and the director or
Executive Officer. Any right to indemnification or advances granted by this
Section 43 to a director or Executive Officer shall be enforceable by or on
behalf of the person holding such right in any court of competent jurisdiction
if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is denied, in whole or in part,
or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within ninety (90) days of request
therefor. The claimant in such enforcement action, if successful in whole or in
part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting the claim. In
connection with any claim for indemnification, the corporation shall be entitled
to raise as a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the
standards of conduct that make it permissible under the DGCL or any other
applicable law for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount
claimed. In connection with any claim by an executive officer of the corporation
(except in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such executive
officer is or was a director of the corporation) for advances, the corporation
shall be entitled to raise a defense as to any such action clear and convincing
evidence that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did
not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding that such person acted without
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was lawful. Neither the failure of
the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or
its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL or
any other applicable law, nor an actual determination by the corporation
(including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its
stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct,
shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not
met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by a director or
executive officer to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of
expenses hereunder, the burden of proving that the director or executive officer
is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under
this Section 43 or otherwise shall be on the corporation.
(e) NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any
person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any other right which such person
may have or hereafter acquire under any applicable statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The corporation is
specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of
its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and
advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL, or by any other
applicable law.
(f) SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS. The rights conferred on any person
by this Bylaw shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or
Executive Officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person.
(g) INSURANCE. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL
or any other applicable law, the corporation, upon approval by the Board of
Directors, may purchase insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted
to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 43.
19.
(h) AMENDMENTS. Any repeal or modification of this Section
43 shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Bylaw in
effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act
that is the cause of any proceeding against any agent of the corporation.
(i) SAVING CLAUSE. If this Bylaw or any portion hereof shall
be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the
corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and executive officer to
the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Section 43 that
shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law. If this Section
43 shall be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of
another jurisdiction, then the corporation shall indemnify each director and
Executive Officer to the full extent under any other applicable law.
(j) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Bylaw,
the following definitions shall apply:
(1) The term "proceeding" shall be broadly construed
and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation,
prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of
testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.
(2) The term "expenses" shall be broadly construed
and shall include, without limitation, court costs, attorneys' fees, witness
fees, fines, amounts paid in settlement or judgment and any other costs and
expenses of any nature or kind incurred in connection with any proceeding.
(3) The term the "corporation" shall include, in
addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including
any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which,
if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to
indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under
the provisions of this Section 43 with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
separate existence had continued.
(4) References to a "director," "executive officer,"
"officer," "employee," or "agent" of the corporation shall include, without
limitation, situations where such person is serving at the request of the
corporation as, respectively, a director, executive officer, officer, employee,
trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise.
(5) References to "other enterprises" shall include
employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes
assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to
"serving at the request of the corporation" shall include any service as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on,
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or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect
to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person
who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall
be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation" as referred to in this Section 43.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICES
SECTION 44. NOTICES.
(a) NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS. Written notice to stockholders
of stockholder meetings shall be given as provided in Section 7 herein. Without
limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given effectively to
stockholders under any agreement or contract with such stockholder, and except
as otherwise required by law, written notice to stockholders for purposes other
than stockholder meetings may be sent by US mail or nationally recognized
overnight courier, or by facsimile, telegraph or telex or by electronic mail or
other electronic means. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Sections 222, 232)
(b) NOTICE TO DIRECTORS. Any notice required to be given to
any director may be given by the method stated in subsection (a), or by
overnight delivery service, facsimile, telex or telegram, except that such
notice other than one which is delivered personally shall be sent to such
address as such director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or, in
the absence of such filing, to the last known post office address of such
director.
(c) AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING. An affidavit of mailing,
executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the corporation or its
transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, or other
agent, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the
stockholder or stockholders, or director or directors, to whom any such notice
or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall
in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.
(Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 222)
(d) METHODS OF NOTICE. It shall not be necessary that the
same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all recipients of notice,
but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and
any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other
or others.
(e) NOTICE TO PERSON WITH WHOM COMMUNICATION IS UNLAWFUL.
Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of law or of the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any person with
whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall
not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental
authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person.
Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such
person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect
as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the
corporation is such as to
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require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, the
certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that
notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons
with whom communication is unlawful.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 45. The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt,
amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal
of the Bylaws of the corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the
approval of a majority of the Board of Directors. The stockholders shall also
have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation; provided,
however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of
stock of the corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation,
the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent
(66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the
capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend
or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the corporation.
ARTICLE XIV
LOANS TO OFFICERS
SECTION 46. LOANS TO OFFICERS. The corporation may lend money to, or
guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee
of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who
is a Director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment
of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be
expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may
be with or without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as
the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of
shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at
common law or under any statute. (Del. Code Ann., tit. 8, Section 143)
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